Dear Indy,
In 2023, someone surrendered a baby boy at Wayne Township’s Station 82. It happened through a baby box, which is a device that allows people to surrender the child anonymously.
Today, that boy is living with a westside family.
Now the Wayne Township Fire Department is adding boxes to other fire stations — thanks in large part to an outpouring of support from donors.
“It’s a very difficult decision to make,” said Capt. Eric Banister, the Wayne Fire public information officer. “We fully understand that. We’re removing all the obstacles to let that surrender happen, and so we can take care of that child.”
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The latest on “Trapped”
Yesterday the Black Church Coalition called on the City-County Council to be “timely and transparent” in an investigation into the Mayor Joe Hogsett administration.
“Mirror Indy’s recent report has exposed a disturbing scale of sexual abuse and violence within city leadership. We commend the courageous women who have come forward to share their stories, shedding light on the significant gaps and failures in the systems designed to manage and prevent such abuses,” the statement read.
The coalition’s statement came the day after Hogsett attended a council meeting and publicly apologized to Caroline Ellert and Lauren Roberts while they sat nearby.
In other news
- There are a lot of plays to choose from at the IndyFringe Festival this month. Lucky for you, arts and culture reporter Breanna Cooper is here to help you prep. Check out the new guide here.
- Ivy Tech will hold free book fairs starting this week — and you do not have to be an Ivy Tech student to attend. Get the details here.
Today’s weather from WTHR
Mainly sunny and seasonably warm in the 80s with the Muggy Meter not too humid. That will change Thursday into Friday and will crank out some downpours and storms mainly early Thursday and again Thursday night.
What’s going on around the city
- Tomorrow, August 15: The IndyFringe theater festival will kick off at 6:30 p.m. Aug. 15 with a production of “Curses, Soiled Again” at the IndyFringe Basile Theatre, 719 E. St. Clair St. The festival, which will run through Aug. 25, has more than 70 plays to choose from, as well as pay-what-you-can options for several productions. Ticket prices vary.
- Saturday, August 17: Roberts Camera, 220 E. St. Clair St., is celebrating 67 years with a tent sale from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The event includes vendors, sales and free gifts for the first 67 customers. Free to attend.
- Wednesday, August 21: Test your superhero knowledge with your friends at 7 p.m. at the Marvel trivia night at Ash & Elm Cider Co., 1301 E. Washington St. The family-friendly event is free to attend, but please reserve a table.
— Breanna Cooper, arts and culture reporter
Looking for other things to do? Check out Mirror Indy’s events calendar.
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What else we’re reading today
- Chalkbeat Indiana: For the first time, high school students in Perry Township are able to enroll in a Hakha Chin heritage language class.
- Indianapolis Business Journal: Amid all the drama of Monday night’s City-County Council meeting, the councilors also approved the creation of a new downtown taxing district (again).
Reporter’s Notebook: Claire Rafford
If public appearance is any indication, the IUPUI divorce is amicable at the moment.
In a Q&A with Indy Chamber CEO Matt Mindrum last week, Indiana University President Pamela Whitten and Purdue University President Mung Chiang were quick to compliment each other.
“The partnership really is this collegial and respectful,” Whitten said. “I know that, if I reach out to Mung, he’s going to answer my call, and vice versa as well.”
In front of a crowd of business leaders at the Madam Walker Legacy Center, Whitten and Chiang outlined their respective visions for the new campuses.
Some points of note — Chiang said that Purdue will open its first campus building, a $187-million academic success center, to the community. Purdue’s also looking to double enrollment in Indianapolis in the next five to seven years, partially as a solution to the student housing shortage in West Lafayette.
On the IU side, Whitten said the university is planning to focus on co-op programs, where students alternate full-time classes and work at local companies. They also hope their new $110-million sports arena will bring community members and businesses to campus.
But my main takeaway from this event is something we’ve all known for a while — this split is about prestige and profile.
Whitten wasn’t shy in saying that the university is gunning for IU Indianapolis to be a top-tier research university by next year. Chiang repeatedly mentioned the partnerships Purdue is building with big-name districts — Elanco Animal Health, 16 Tech and Bottleworks.
But there’s still a lot to keep an eye on, including whether these lofty goals are met, and how it all plays out for students. If you have thoughts, hit my line!
— Claire Rafford, higher ed reporter
Have a question or suggestion for our reporters? Contact them here.
Notes from our Documenters
Documenters Whitney Wilson and Alicia Reuter covered last week’s Homes For All Coalition meeting.
Reuter reported that the coalition introduced a Homebuyers Choice Program, which will allow neighbors to apply to be considered for a housing lottery for a home in a community land trust.
A community land trust is an independent, nonprofit organization that owns the land where a resident-owned home sits.
To participate, an applicant must complete a multi-step process to understand the CLT model, become a CLT member and attend an orientation.
Read more from Alicia and Whitney here.
— Ariana Beedie, community journalism director
Interested in being a Documenter? Here’s how.
Reflections
Count me among the olds who are just learning about Summerween.
But as an Irvington Halloween diehard — and as a backyard chicken keeper,
I already know the perfect spooky oversized skeleton for my yard.
See you tomorrow.
Ryan
P.S. If you liked something about today’s newsletter, or didn’t, let me know at ryan.martin@mirrorindy.org. It helps us serve you better.
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